Closure for receptacles



c. s. BARON May 16, 1939.

CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLES Filed July 6, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l V n l May 16, 1939. c. s. BARON CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLES Filed July 6, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 zaries S album May 16, 1939.

c. s. BARON 2,158,923

CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLES Filed July 6, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE cLosUaE FOR RECEPTACLES Charles S. Baron, Tiffin, Ohio Application July s, 1938, Serial No. 217,757

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved closure for receptacles such as syrup pitchers, sugar jars and containers for various other liquid and solid substances.

An essential feature of the invention is to provide a simple, eflicient and economical 'cap or closure for a receptacle, in which either a onepiece or a two-piece cap has associated with a discharge opening in the top thereof, a displaceo able member having one of its end portions formed to constitute a flap for closing the discharge opening, and its opposite end portion shaped to provide a thumbpiece for actuating the flap. The displaceable member is pivotally con- 15 nected to the cap by a hinge plate or retaining member which extends through an elongated slot in the top of the cap. The hinge plate also has an offset portion projecting above the cap which is in overlapping engagement with an ingo termediate portion of the displaceable member so as to be rigidly secured thereto by any suitable retaining means. The hinge plate loosely extends through the slot in the top and coacts with the wall thereof to constitute a fulcrum' support for the displaceable member. The invention is also an improvement over the receptacle closure embodied in my Patent No. 2,102,349, dated December 14, 1937 in that it reduces to a' minimum the number of essential parts required'to efiiciently operate the flap to permit the discharge of the contents of the receptacle therefrom.

-A further object consists in associating with the hinge plate connected to the displaceable member, yieldable means which engage the underside of the top of the cap so as'normally to maintain the flap in its closedposition relativ to the discharge opening in the top.

Another object consists in rotatably connecting a handle to the receptacle so that the handle 40 may be turned to align with a thumbpiece on the cap when the latter is applied to the receptacle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accom- 45 panying claims and drawings.

7 Referring to the drawings in which are disclosed several preferred embodiments of the invention:

; Figure 1 is a side view of a receptacle showing 50 atWo-piece cap constructed in accordance with the invention and. with parts in section for the purpose of illustration.

-, Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Figure 1 andlooking in 5a the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side view of a modified form of 5 the invention with parts in section.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6--6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a further modification showing a one-piece cap with my invention applied thereto.

Figure '8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 99 of Figure '7.

Figure 10 is a. disassembled perspective view of the displaceable member and the hinge plate showing a double coil spring carried by the plate.

Figure 11 is a sectional view of another modification.

Figure 12 is a side view of the neck of the receptacle showing the retaining means for applying a one-piece cap thereto.

Figure 13 is a sectional view of another modification of the invention.

Figure 14 is a plan view of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a side view of a receptacle with my improved cap applied thereto and having a rotatable handle connected to the neck of the receptacle.

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line I6l6 of Figure 15.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numeralsindicate like parts in the several views, l5 (Fig. 1) designates a dispensing receptacle, such as a glass pitcher, jar or the like, of any suitable shape and material, for receiving syrup, sugar and various other solid and liquid substances so as to constitute a readily portable and sanitary container therefor. The receptacle l5 may have an externally threaded neck 16 for receiving a complementary threaded collar or skirt ll of a two-piece metallic cap or closure l8. The collar [1 has an inwardly extending annular flange [9 which engages a complementary flange 20 on the upper section 2| of the cap so that when the collar is applied to the receptacle, the section 2i is maintained firmly in position. A liner 22 of any suitable gasket material may be interposed between the mouth of the receptacle and the flange 20 to provide a hermetical seal at the mouth when the cap is initially applied. The upper section 2! has its top 23 provided with a pouring opening 24 which is controlled by a displaceable member 25. The displaceable member 25 is preferably shaped to provide a flat end portion 26 which constitutes a flap or lid for normally closing the discharge opening 24 and has its opposite end portion shaped to provide a thumbpiece 21 which registers with a handle 28 on the receptacle l5. The flap 26 is connected to the thumbpiece by an upwardly inclined intermediate portion 29 so that the displaceable member constitutes a combined or integral flap and thumbpiece. A hinge plate or retainer member 30 extends loosely through a slot 3| in the top of the cap and has laterally or outwardly projecting arms 32 (Fig. 3)

positioned below the top and arranged to engage the underside thereof to prevent the upward removal of the plate from the cap. The plate 39 immediately above the slot 3| is bent to provide an offset portion 33 which extends parallel with the intermediate portion 29 of the displaceable member so as to overlap and engage the same. The displaceable member may be secured to the hinge plate by a rivet 34 which, extends through the intermediate portion 29 and the olfset portion 3 3. The sides of the intermediate portion 29 may be formed with flanges 35 which engage the adjacent sidesof the ofiset portion 33 of the hinge plate to prevent lateral movement of the displaceable member relative to the hinge plate and which also insures the flap 26 when in ts closed position, being maintained to overlap theopening 24.

The juncture of the hinge plate 39 with its offset portion 33 coacts with the walls of the slot 3| to constitute a fulcrum support for the hinge plate and the displaceable member, so as to permit the convenient raising of the flap 26 when the thumb piece 21 is depressed. The flanges 35 on the displaceable member project slightly be.- yond the side walls of the slot 3| to limit the downward movement of the plate when the same is connected to the displaceable member. Thus, the plate 30 is movably connected to the capby the arms 32 and theflanges 35 positioned on opposite sides of the top. (Fig. 3). 'As theflap 25 is heavier than the thumbpiece, it will, when pressure is released from the thumb-. piece, return by gravity to its normal horizontal position to close the opening 24. As shown in Figure 1, the contents of the receptacle is prevented from being discharged therefrom by the liner. 22. The thumbpiece 21 is arranged to align with the handle 28 in substantially the same manner as the two-piece cap structure disclosed in my (:0-

, pending application Serial No. 133,675, filed March 29, 1937, now issued'as Patent Number 2,136,123 of November 8, 1938. In other words, when it is desired to pour the contents of the receptacle therefrom, the liner 22 is first removed and the cap is reapplied so that the thumbpiece 21 will be maintained in registration with the handle 28 when the collar I1 is threaded onto the neck of the receptacle.

The modification disclosed in Figures 5 and 6, is substantially similar to that previously described with the exception that instead of providing a rivet to secure thedisplaceable member to the hinge plate, the intermediate portion 36 of the displaceable member 31 has its sides provided with flexible lugs or flanges 38 arranged to be bent over and inwardly in clamping engagement with the adjacent sides of the offset portion 39 of the hinge plate 40 (Fig. 6). The plate 40extends through a slot 4| in the top of the cap and has laterally extending arms 42 arranged to engage the underside of thetop to prevent the upward removal of the plate from the cap. The displaceable member is formed at one end with the flap 43 and at its opposite end with the thumbpiece 44 which normally assume the position as shown in Figure 5. The upper end of the ofiset portion 39 of the hinge plate may be curved at the juncture of the intermediate portion 36 with the thumbpiece to provide reinforcing means 36 for increasing the rigidity of the thumbpiece. Upon the depressing of the thumbpiece 44, the displaceable member 31 is moved about its fulcrum support with the walls of the slot 4|, toraise the flap 43 away from the discharge opening 45 in the cap and when this pressure is released, the flap is returned by gravity to close the discharge openmg.

In the modification disclosed in Figures '7, 8 and 9, a one-piece cap 46 is arranged to be detachably connected to the neck 41 of a receptacle 48, and is preferably formed with a depending smooth skirt portion 49 which engages the neck of the receptacle and is connected to a reduced smooth portion 50 by an annular shoulder 5| arranged to overlap the mouth of the receptacle and provide a seal when the cap is applied. The neck 41 maybe provided with spaced oppositely disposed inclined ribs 52 (Fig. 12), which terminate in the stops or shoulders 53 and coact with'projections or indentations 54 extending inwardlyfromdiametrically opposite sides of the skirt 49 (Fig. 8) so that upon the application of the cap to the receptacle and the turning of the same, the projections 54 engage and ride the underside of the ribs 52 until the ribs and the cap are brought to rest by the stops 53, thus insuring the can when applied to the receptacle, being firmly but detachably secured thereto and the thumbpiece being maintained in registration with a predetermined portion of the receptacle such as a handle or the like.

The top 55 of the cap has a discharge opening 56 controlled by the flap 5'! on the displaceable member 58. The flap 51 at its inner end, is bent upwardly to provide an inclined intermediate portion 59 which terminatesin a horizontal portion or thumbpiece 60 disposed substantially par allelwith the flap 51 (Fig. '10). A'hinge plate 6| extends through a slot 62 in the top and has an offset portion 63'adjacent the slot which engages the inclined portion 59 of the displaceable member 58 above the top and which may be secured thereto by the rivet 64 which extends through the aligned openings 65 and 66 in the displaceable member and the hinge plate respectively. The sides'of the intermediate portion 59 may be provided with the flanges 61,'simil ar to the flanges 35 (Fig. 4), and which engage the adjacent sides of the offset portion 63 of the lateral movement of the displaceable member relative to the plate when the parts are set up.

The plate 6| also has outwardly extending projections or arms 68 beneath the top of the cap which are arranged to receive the'coils 69 of a double coil spring 10. The ends 1| of the spring engage the underside of the .cap so as normally to maintain the flap 51 tive to the discharge opening 56. The outer ends of the arms 68 are bent as at 12 to prevent the coils from slipping oh. the ends of the arms and to hold thecoils securely but'movably in position. Manifestly,'instead ofconnecting the hinge plate with the displaceable member-bythe rivet 59, these parts may be readily secured togetherby omitting the rivet 59 and extending' the flanges 65 to overlap the offset portion 63 of the plate in the plate to prevent in its closed position relathreaded neck 86 has vmouth 11 arranged to be duced uniformly same manner as .shown by the connecting means disclosed in Figures 5 and 6.

Whenthe receptacle is initially filled by the packer, a liner such as 22 (Fig. 1) may be interposed'between the cap and the mouth of the receptacle to prevent the escape of the material. When it is desired to use the material, the liner 22 is removed and a gasket I3 may be interposed between the shoulder 5| and the mouth of the receptacle when the cap is reapplied to provide a tight seal. This, however, is not'always necessary since the tight frictional engagement of the shoulder 5| with the mouth, when the capis applied has been found in most instances, sufficient to prevent leakage of the material from the receptacle.

In the modification disclosed in Figure 11, a one-piece cap I4 is detachably connected to a receptacle 15 in substantially the same manner as the cap 46 previously described, and has its discharge opening formed with a tubular spout 16 which is provided with an inwardly tapered closed by a flap I8 which is connected to the hinge plate III by any suitable'means, such as the rivet 80. A double coil spring 8| is carried plate I9 and has its ends 82 engaging the underside of the top 83 of the cap in substantially the same manner as the spring previously described, in orderto normally maintain the flap I8 against the inwardly inclined mouth I9 of the spout I6. A thumbpiece 84 integral with the flap 18 acts when depressed to move the latter away from the spout I6 to allow the contents of the receptacle to be discharged therefrom. The shape of the spout I6 is such as to facilitate the pouring of the material from the receptacle. Consequently, when the thumbpiece 84 is moved downwardly to raise the flap away from the spout and the pressure is released from the thumbpiece, the flap will close the spout and cut off the flow of the syrup or other fluid so as to prevent the same from dripping off and running down the, sides of the cap.

Heretofore, it has been difficult to associate a threaded one-piece cap with the handle on a receptacle so as to align the thumbpiece with the handle or a predetermined portion of the receptacle, since neither the threads on the receptacle nor the threads on the capcan be proenough to insure the cap being screwed on the neck in such a manner asalways to come to a stop at the same place on the receptacle. Accordingly, in the modification shown in Figure 13, a receptacle 85 having a associated therewith a onepiece cap 81 provided with a discharge opening 88 in the top thereof. A displaceable member 89 has at one end a flap 90- and at its opposite enda thumbpiece 9 I. The flap 90 is connected to the thumbpiece 9| by an inclined intermediate portion 92 which has its sides provided with inwardly projecting flanges 93 that engage the adjacent sides of the offset portion 94 of the hinge plate 95, firmly to secure the plate to the displaceable member. The plate 95 beneath the top has the reduced outwardly extending arms 96 similar in construction to the arms 68 previously described. A double coil spring 91 connected to the hinge plate through the arms 96, has its ends 98 engaging the underside of the top to normally maintain the flap 90 in its closed position relative to the opening 98. An arm 99 has an upwardly extended curved flange I00 (Fig. 14) engaging the side of the cap adjacent the by the arms 82 of the thumbpiece 9|." The flange I00 may be connected by the spaced rivets IN to the sides of the cap. A depending handle I02 is connected to the free end of the arm 99 in any suitable manner such as by the screw I02 and is positioned to register with the thumbpiece 9| to permit the convenient operation of the thumbpiece when the receptacle is raised and tilted to discharge the material therefrom.

It will be seen that upon the applying of the cap 91 and its associated parts to the receptacle, the handle I02 will be rotated therewith and will remain at all times in registering position relative to the thumbpiece 9| so that the user, may conveniently. operate the thumbpiece 9| for the purpose of raising the flap 90 to permit the discharge of the material from the receptacle. This form of cap and handle structure is particularly suitable for use with a receptacle having a threaded neck but no handle and may be conveniently applied to the receptacle in such a fashion as to insure the handle and thumbpiece being in registration to permit the convenient actuation of the thumbpiece when the handle is grasped by the user. If desired, the double coil spring 91 may be omitted and the flap 90 closed by gravity in substantially the same manner as the flap 43 shown in Figure 5.

In the modification disclosed in Figures and 16, a one-piece threaded cap I04 is removably connected to the neck of the receptacle I05 as at I06 and is provided with a displaceable member I01 having a thumbpiece I08 and a flap I09 which are connected by the inclined portion H0. The inclined portion has its sides flanged inwardly as at III so as to be secured to the offset portion II2 of the hinge plate in substantially the same manner as shown in Figure 6 or may, if desired, be secured by the fastening means shown in Figure 3. The displaceable member may be closed either by gravity or by connecting a coil spring to the arms of the hinge plate in the manner as. shown in Figure 13. A metal band or strap 3 has an annular portion II4 which embraces the receptacle below the threaded neck I06 and which terminates in outwardly parallel disposed arms I I5 (Fig. 16) each of which is formed with spaced curved clamping jaws IIB for receiving the reduced portion II'I of a wooden handle or the like H8. The parallel arms 5 are provided with registering openings through which extend a threaded bolt I|9 detachably connected to the arms by the nut I20. The strap H3 is of sufliciently yieldable material so that when the nut I is withdrawn from. the bolt II9, the arms 5 may be sprung apart to permit the removal of the clamping jaws |I6 from the handle and the withdrawal of the annular portion II4 from the receptacle. Conversely, upon the applying of the strap to the receptacle, and the jaws to the handle or lifting member IIB, the tightening of the nut I20 on the bolt 9 will secure the handle to the jaws IIS and will allow the annular portion II4 to be rotatably connected to the receptacle so that when the cap is screwed down on the receptacle, the band and handle may be turned around on the neck of the pitcher to align with the thumbpiece.

A two-piece cap provided with my displaceable member and hinge plate may be used with a receptacle having a handle and the thumbpiece may be brought in alignment with the handle by means such as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 133,675. Further, a one-piece crum support for the displaceable member.

cap -having my invention applied thereto may be detachably connected to a receptacle of any desired shape and configuration so as to align with a-handle on the receptacle by providing the cap with opposed projections which coact with complementary ribs on the neck of the receptacle to insure the thumbpiece aligning with the handle. The cap mayequally be used with receptacles not provided with handles by connecting a handle to the cap in a. manner as shown in Figure 13. Further, a cap having my improved features associated therewith may be either threaded to a receptacle or otherwise applied thereto. The thumbpiece maybe located at any point and after the cap is tightly applied tothe receptacle, a rotatable handle connected to the receptacle may be turned to register with the thumbpiece to permit the convenient operation of the flap (Fig. 15).

It will be manifest that the gravity closing flap shown applied to the two-piece cap in Figure 1 may be substituted for the spring closure flap on the one-piece cap as shown in several of the other figures and that the displaceable member may be fastened to the hinge plate in the various forms illustrated either by the inwardly disposed flanges shown in Figure 6 or by the rivet and grip pieces disclosed in Figure 10.

It will be observed that all the forms of the invention have in common, means for pivotally connecting an integral flap and thumbpiece to the cap above the top by a hinge plate which extends through .a slot in the top and constitutes a ful- The displaceable member and its hinged connecting means may be conveniently applied to either a one-piece cap or a two-piece cap, and the flap may normally be positioned to close the discharge opening either by gravity or by yieldable means associated wtih the hinge piate and engaging the underside of the top. In other words, the number of parts associated with the cap for normally maintaining the discharge opening closed, is reduced to a minimum without in any way detracting from the efiicient operation of the closure means. While the caps to which the invention is applied, are preferably made of metal, it will be manifest that the caps or closures may be made of Bakelite or any other allied substances. The forms of the invention shown are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments and it will be understood that the various detail features may be interchangeably used with either onepiece or two-piece cap structures and that such changes as fall within the purview of one skilled in the art may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cap for dispensing receptacles having a discharge opening and a slot in the top thereof, a displaceable member above the top having an end portionconstituting a flap normally positioned to close said opening, the opposite end portion of said member being shaped to provide a thumbpiece for actuating the flap, a hinge plate extending through the slot and having an offset portion above the top, said plate below the top having outwardly extending arms for limiting the upward movement thereof, and means for connecting the offset portion of the plate to the displaceable member, said plate loosely engaging the walls ofthe slot to provide a fulcrum support for the displaceable member;

2. A cap for dispensing receptacles having a discharge opening and a slot in the top thereof,

said discharge opening-havingaspout extending above the top, a displaceable member above the top having an end portion constituting a flap normally positioned to' close said spout, the opposite end portion of said member being shaped to provide a thumbpiece for actuating the flap, a hinge plate extending loosely through the slot and having an offset portion above the top,'said plate below the top having outwardly extending arms for limiting the upward movement thereof, the .intermediate portion of the displaceable member having inwardly disposed flanges engaging the adjacentv sides of the offset portion of the plate for securing the displaceable member thereto, said plate loosely engaging the walls of the slot to provide displaceable member.

3. A cap for dispensing receptacles having a discharge opening and a slot inthe top thereof, a

a fulcrum support for the displaceable member above the top having an end portion constituting a flap normally positioned to close said opening, the opposite end portion of said member being shaped to provide a thumbpiece for actuating the flap, a hinge plate extending through said slot and having an oifset portion above the top, said plate below the top having laterally projecting arms for limiting the upward movement of the plate, means for connecting the offset portion of the plate to the displaceable member, said plate loosely engaging the Walls of the slot to provide a fulcrum support for the displaceable member, and yieldable means connected to the hinge plate and engaging the underside of the top for normally maintaining the flap in its closed position.

'4. A cap for dispensing receptacles having a discharge opening and a slot in the top thereof, a displaceable member abovethe top having an end portion constituting a flap normally positioned to close said opening, the opposite end portion of said member being shaped to provide a thumbpiece for actuating the fiap, a hinge plate extending through said slot and having anoifset portion above the top, said plate below the top having laterally projecting arms for limiting the upward movement of the plate, means for connecting the offset portion of the plate to the displaceable member, said plate loosely engaging the walls of the slot to provide a fulcrum support for the displaceable member, and a two-coiled spring having a coil carried by each of said arms and its. ends engaging the underside of said top for normally maintaining thefiap in its closed position against the'top.

5. A cap for dispensing receptacles having a discharge opening and a slot in the top thereof, a displaceable member above the top having an end portion constituting a flap normally positioned to close said opening, the opposite end portion of said member being shaped to provide a thumbpiece for actuating the flap, a hinge plate extending through said slot and having an offset portion above the top, said plate below the top having laterally projecting arms for limiting the upward movementof the plate, means for connecting the offset portion of the plate to the displaceable member, said plate loosely engaging the walls of the slot to providea fulcrum support for the displaceable member, and a two-coiled spring having a coil carried by each of said arms and its ends engaging the underside of said top for normally maintaining the flap in its closed position against the top, said arms being bent at their outer ends to prevent the withdrawal of the coils therefrom.

portion above the top,

6. A cap for dispensing receptacles having a discharge opening and aslot in the'top thereof, a displaceable member above the top having an end portion constituting a flap normally posi tioned to close said opening, the opposite end portion of said member forming a thumbpiece for actuating thei'lap, said flap and thumbpiece being connected by an intermediate portion extending upwardly from the flap adjacent said slot, a hinge plate extending through said slot and having an offset portion above the top, said' plate below the top having laterally projecting arms for limiting the upward movement thereof, and means connecting the offset portion of the plate to the intermediate portion of the displaceable'member above the top, said plate loosely engaging the walls of the slot to provide a fulcrum support for the displaceable member. I

'7'.A cap for dispensingrecep'tacles having a discharge opening and a 'slo'tin the top thereof, a displaceable member above the top having an end portion constitutingi'a flap normally positioned, to close said opening, the opposite end portion of said member forming a thumbpiece for actuating the flap, said flap and thumbpiece being connected by an intermediate portion extending upwardly from the flap, a hinge plate extending through said slot and having an offset portion above the top, said plate below the top having laterally projecting arms for limiting the upward movement thereof, means connecting the offset portion of the plate to the intermediate portion of the displaceable member adjacent the slot, said plate loosely engaging the walls of the slot to provide a fulcrum support for the displaceable member, and yieldable means carried by said arms and engaging the underside of the top for normally maintaining the flap in its closed position against the top.

8. A cap for dispensing receptacles having a discharge opening and a slot in the top thereof, a displaceable member above the top having an end portion constituting a flap normally positioned to close said opening, the opposite end portionof said member forming a thumbpiece for actuating the flap, said flap and thumbpiece being connected by an intermediate portion extending upwardly from the flap, a hinge plate extending through said slot and having an offset said plate below the top having laterally projecting arms for limiting the upward movement of the plate, and the intermediate portion of said displaceable member having inwardly projecting flanges engaging the adjacent sides and the rear of the offset portion of the platefor securing the displaceable member to the plate, said plate loosely engaging the walls of the slot to provide a fulcrum support for the displaceable member.

9. A cap for dispensing receptacles having a discharge opening and a slot in the top thereof, a displaceable me bercabove the top having an end portion constituting a fiapnormally positioned to close said opening, ,the opposite end portion of said member forming a thumbpiece for actuating the flap, said flap and thumbpiece being connected by an intermediate portion extending upwardly from the flap, a hinge plate extending through said'slot and having an offset portion above the top, said plate below the top having laterally projecting arms for limiting the upward movement of the plate, the intermediate portion of said displaceable member having inwardly projecting flanges engaging the adjacent sides and the rear of the offset portion of the plate for securing the displaceable member to the plate, said plate loosely engaging the walls of the slot to provide a fulcrum support for the displaceable member, and a double coiled spring having a coil carried by each of said arms and its ends engaging the underside of the top normally to maintain the displaceable member against the top.

10. A cap for dispensing receptacles having a discharge opening and a slot in the top thereof, a displaceable member above the top having an end portion constituting a flap normally positioned to close said opening, the opposite end portion of said member being shaped to provide a thumbpiece for actuating the flap, a hinge plate extending through the slot and having an offset portion above the top, means on the plate below the top for limiting the upward movement thereof, means for connecting the offset portion of the plate to the displaceablemember, said 7 plate loosely engaging the Wall of the slot to provide a fulcrum support for the displaceable memher, and a handle connected to the side of the cap and in substantial alignment with said thumbpie'ce.

11. In combination with a receptacle having a handle, a cap detachably connected to the receptacle, said cap having a discharge opening and a slot in the top thereof, a displaceable member above the top having an end portion constituting a flap normally positioned to close said opening, the opposite end portion of said member being shaped to provide a thumbpiece for actuating the flap, a hinge plate extending through the slot and having an offset portion above the top, means on the plate below the top for limiting the upward movement thereof, means for connecting the offset portion of the plate to the displaceable member, said plate loosely engaging the wall of the slot to provide a fulcrum support for the displaceable member, and means when the cap is applied to the receptacle for aligning the thumbpiece with the handle.

12. In combination with a receptacle, 2. onepiece cap, means for detachably connecting the cap to the receptacle, said cap having a discharge opening and a slot in the top thereof, a displaceable member above the top having an end portion constituting a flap normally positioned to close said opening, the opposite end portion of said member being shaped to provide a thumbpiece for actuating the flap, a hinge plate extending through the slot and having an offset portion above the top, means on the plate below the top for limiting the upward movement thereof, means for connecting the offset portion of the plate to the displaceable member, said plate loosely engaging the wall of the slot toprovide a fulcrum support for the displaceable member, and a handle connected to the side of the cap and in substantial alignment with said thumpiece.

13. A cap for dispensing receptacles having a top and a depending skirt, means for detachably connecting the skirt to a receptacle, said top being provided with a spout opening and a diametrically op posed slot, a displaceable member above the top, said displaceable member having an end portion constituting a flap normally positioned to close said spout opening, the opposite end portion of said displaceable member being shaped to provide a thumb piece for actuating the flap, a depending member extending loosely through the slot and having a portion below the top circumscribed by the skirt, means connected to the dependingmember to the depending member within the cap forlimiting the upward movement of the depending tioned to close said spout opening,v the opposite end portion of said displaceable member being shaped toprovide a thumb piece for actuating the flap, a depending member extending loosely through theslot and having a portion below the top. circumscribed by the skirt, means connected within the cap for ent of the depending means connecting displaceable memlimiting the upward move member relative tothe cap,

the depending member to the ber above the slot, said depending memberv co acting with the wall of the slot to constitute a hinged support for the displaceable member, and yieldable means connected to the depending member below the slot and engaging the underside ofthe top to maintain'normally the flap againstrthe spout opening. I

15. A cap for dispensing receptacles having its top provided with a spout opening and a spaced opposed slot, a displaceable member above the top having an end portion constituting a flap normally positioned to close the spout opening, the opposed end portion of the displaceable member extending upwardly and outwardly to provide a thumb piece for actuating the flap, a depending member extending loosely through said slot, said depending member having means below the slot and within the cap arranged to engage the underside of the top to limit the upward movement thereof, and means connecting the depending member to the displaceable member above the top, said depending member coacting with the wall of the slot to provide a fulcrum support for the displaceable member when the latter is moved relative to said spout opening. a t

v v CHARLES S. BARON. 

